How Big is Too Big?

[LauraS]

As we reported last week in our news story, Royal Caribbean announced it would build cruising's biggest ship ever: The first in its proposed series of Genesis-class ships will measure a whopping 220,000 tons and carry 5,400 passengers. The ship, which will be 43 percent larger than Royal Caribbean's soon-to-be-launched Freedom of the Seas -- itself the biggest cruise ship ever built -- will be launched in fall 2009.

 

We want to know: Poll: How big is too big? Tell us how you feel and we'll publish the results next week.

Then, after you've told us, share with each other.......

[ISABELLA]

I already started the thread - How big is too big?

[chrysalis]

I already started the thread - How big is too big?

 

you totally missed the point..click on the link in her post....

[TwoCruisers]

If cruise ships keep getting bigger and bigger, some day they will just dock a ship between two islands and the passengers will walk from island to island. :eek:

[NelsonsFirstMate]

I personally think it's too big however, in the days of Titanic, imagine if you had said you were going to build a 150,000 ton ship, they would have thought that crazy.

[Globaliser]

It's an interesting set of questions, but I reckon that "it's too big" when the cruise line can't sell enough tickets on it to make it profitable. And that we're not going to know for a while yet.

[jlp20]

I think there should be two sets of questions. First, would you want to sail on a ship this large? The problem here is we have no idea how they will set up the ship. Two casinos, a very large theater and a 100-yard long buffet. I’ll wait for the details to make up my mind.

 

The second question is if I want to “CRUISE” on this type of ship. Some ports unable to handle a ship of this size and tenders not being practical. The large number of passengers overwhelming a small port, again we have to wait.

[Tigger B]

Hey here's a thought...If they keep buileding them so big the "Bath Tub Theory" may be a serious concern...You know, raise the water level in the ocean and it will spill over onto land...

 

Just a thought...

 

Hope the welds are good too...

 

Brian.

[chasetf]

I think there should be two sets of questions. First, would you want to sail on a ship this large? The problem here is we have no idea how they will set up the ship. Two casinos, a very large theater and a 100-yard long buffet. I’ll wait for the details to make up my mind.

 

The second question is if I want to “CRUISE” on this type of ship. Some ports unable to handle a ship of this size and tenders not being practical. The large number of passengers overwhelming a small port, again we have to wait.

Makes a big difference how things are laid out. I was somewhat reluctant about the Grand class... thought they would be too big... but with multiple dining rooms, multiple lounges, theaters... one does not feel anymore crowded than on a Sun class.

 

5K plus people dumping on GC would not be enjoyable. Large city ports would be able to handle this ship. My fear is it will be plying the Caribbean along with the other three dozen ships... :eek:

[twodudes]

I disagree. Many Vegas Hotels have 4,000 - 5,000 rooms (which could mean 10,000 guests at max occupancy) and with the right amount of recreational facilities and staffing, these hotels never feel crowded. The demographic of such a ship will also vary - you will increase the odds of people who don't use certain facilities, and those who will use more of their room etc. Yes, if the design is wrong it will be an issue, but that is a risk with any new destinational product whether it be land or water based.

[Druke I]

I'm not a fan of mega-ships, and think that any ship that cannot fit through the locks of the Panama Canal is too damned big!

[A Sixth?]

I remember when the first 100,000 ton ships came out there was a lot of news about the crush of passengers and the need for such a huge vessel and the overcapacity and blah blah blah

 

The huge ships will be a hit and if you don't want to sail on one then don't

 

Sure a lot of people here trying to describe a Kiss concert when they have never seen one IMHO

 

Relax, there will be a half dozen monster ships and 500 smaller ones to choose from.

 

Variety is the spice of travel :D

[negc]

I'm not a fan of mega-ships, and think that any ship that cannot fit through the locks of the Panama Canal is too damned big!

What will be your criteria if they enlarge the locks as has been proposed?:)

[donna5]

What will be your criteria if they enlarge the locks as has been proposed?:)

 

 

Hopefully we won't be alive when that happens!!!!:D It won't happen overnight.

[Crown Prince]

My Poll Answers:

 

1. Is the proposed Genesis class ship too big?

Yes

 

2. Would you cruise on it?

Yes

 

3. Tell us why or why not?

I would cruise on the first Genesis-class ship in 2009, just because I can - ONE time - just to see what it is like; however, I prefer Pacific Princess-sized (640 pax) and will go back to Her.

 

 

4. What features and amenities that don't exist yet on cruise ships would you propose?

A FLOATING METROPOLIS: A floating island, featuring beaches, palm trees, lush tropical rainforests, and a retractable harbour at which smaller ships could dock. 100,000 square feet of convention space. A helo pad on top of one of the 9-story towers, several olympic-size pools, as well as disappearing edge pool, swim-against-the-current, hot tubs that really are hot and adjustable with a selection of aromotherapy fragrances in different tubs.

In 1986, NCL Chairman, Knut Kloster, proposed the "Phoenix" project,a supership with these amenities. Kloster stepped down from NCL rather than give up his dream. Is he still alive to see his dream come true?

 

 

5. What existing features and amenities (Royal Caribbean and any other line for that matter) would you like to see on the new ship?

Wonderful, gourmet cuisine (24 hours, of course) and always available as room service, full menu

Scholarship at Sea

State-of-the-Art Gymnasium and Spa (Pilates, yoga, etc.)

Quality professional teachers for the above.

Private hot tubs in all cabins mini-suites and above.

Select-number adjustable beds with high-thread-count linens, down pillows and duvets.

More and larger ballroom dancing venues and Lessons (can you tell I'm watching 'Dancing with the Stars'?

 

6. Do you care about destinations at all on a ship like this?

Yes

 

 

7. What would be the optimal itinerary for the ship? The only Choices are: Western Caribbean with calls at: Jamaica, Cozumel, and Costa Maya, OR Eastern Caribbean with calls at St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan, or OTHER.

I chose Other.

 

Comments (if you answered "Other" for question 7):

Carib, Puleeze! Round-the-World, Transcontinental and Exotics for this Big Woman.

 

 

Favorite line and favorite ship:

Regal, Royal, Pacific and Tahitian Princesses

The Paul Gaugin

[Druke I]

They have been talking about enlarging the locks at Panama since 1942, when the steel was actually allocated for its construction - then diverted to build Iowa class battleships.

 

If and when they enlarge the locks, perhaps I will alter my view of mega-ships.

[ssbeagle]

"Many Vegas Hotels have 4,000 - 5,000 rooms (which could mean 10,000 guests at max occupancy) and with the right amount of recreational facilities and staffing, these hotels never feel crowded. "

 

Every time I have been to Vegas the lines for checking in or out have been so long that it takes up to an hour or more to do it. Everywhere you go is so crowded and noisy. I have never seen an "uncrowded" Vegas hotel unless it was at the end of the strip.

 

I don't like the large ships and even the Grand class are larger than I like. Unless it's rough seas you don't even feel like you are on a ship and that's what's supposed to be so relaxing is just cruising along and enjoying the motion of the ocean. That is also the reason I haven't gone on any of the RCL ships other than the Rhapsody of the Seas because they are too big.

[Giannap]

Big means longer line wherever you go, ashore, getting back on the ship,

at the restaurant at the theatre taking pictures so, are you patient?

Ciao

[mozfoz]

Limiting size is limiting choice. Why should any one care how big a ship is unless they own the ship and need to tackle the complexities involved, or are forced to sail on it.

Neither of which anyone one these boards are faced with. If you don't like them big, does that mean they should not build them? Based on past size increases of ships, it is obvious the cruise lines feel they will be successful. Who's the God who defines what is "too big"?

[Globaliser]

Why should any one care how big a ship is unless they own the ship and need to tackle the complexities involved, or are forced to sail on it.

There is one reason: If you're sharing a port with a ship this size instead of a ship which is, say, half its size, it's likely to have an impact on your experience of that port. It's not only the people sailing on the ship that will be affected by it. I think it's a legitimate reason to have an opinion about the ship, even if it's not enough of a reason to stop the cruise line building it.

[beachnative]

I certainly would sail on her...simply because she's out there...a new adventure. It would be a new experience, something different, and something to try once. I'd research ways to "beat" the lines and crowds by using this board (there WILL be ways to beat them and you'll post the ways). I would prefer if she sailed either Western or Eastern Caribbean because we generally don't get off at those ports anymore... we'll have the ship to ourselves on port days like we do on the grand class or voyager class. As far as sea days...my balcony will not be crowded. With traditional dining I shouldn't have to stand in line to wait for a table. I am a big fan of the "mall" concept on the voyager class ship and would hope a ship of this size would go even bigger.

 

After writing this, I'm more eager than ever to go.

[CKforensic]

I agree that a ship is only too big when the facilities cannot support it. I don't think that people should be overly concerned about additional people on shore when this ship is in port. It has roughly double the size of most of the larger cruise ships The last time I was in Grand Cayman, there were ~6 ships in port (approximately 12,000 people)...sure it was crowded, but this shows that the more popular ports can certainly handle the additional passengers. That being said, I couldn't imagine the lines for embarkation and for getting on and off of a tender at each port :eek:

[bjkTX]

on any ships other than the Grand class (first the Golden, then the Diamond, and the Grand next week). I've loved the two we've been on, but am eager to try one of the smaller ships. We took the Diamond to Alaska and felt that it would have been better on a smaller ship - and we want to do the full transit Panama Canal next - so that will have to be on something smaller than a Grand Class. But as for lines and size - we have never felt crowded, never stood in line (yet) for anything - and loved what the Grand class ships offered. As stated before in prevous posts, given the chance I'd most likely cruise on a bigger ship - just to do it :-)

[koolZip]

I've only sailed on one other ship and will be on the Crown's debut in June. I think this is as large as I'd like to go in ship size. I suspect that despite the best efforts of the designers and the ship staff, the ship will feel overcrowded at least. At some point logistical logjam sets in and service/quality suffers. In fact, after this trip, I'd like to sail on a smaller ship.

 

Robert

[Crown Prince]

Laura promised the Poll Results "Next Week". It has been nearly 2 weeks since this thread started. Is there not enough interest?

Laura, when will you be posting the Poll Results?

Thank You